Aiwa HS-PX297

The HS-PX297 (also known as PX297) was a stereo cassette player manufactured by the Aiwa Corporation in Indonesia. Its electronics and transport mechanism has similarities with the HS-GM1000. Here are some of its features and specifications.

• Auto Reverse
• Dolby B Noise Reduction
• Dynamic Super Loudness (DSL)
• 30-hour operation using LR6 AA battery
• Ear Guard
• Full Logic Control
• Normal/Metal switch
• Blank Skip switch
• Integrated AA battery compartment
• Dimensions: 111.4 mm × 80.7 mm × 29.1 mm
• Mass: 132 g (excluding batteries)

Review

This cassette player has wonderful electronic engineering based around three principle integrated circuits (IC). The Toshiba TA2103F is the system amplifier IC, with built-in Dolby functionality. This was an improvement over the HS-PX477, HS-PX377, HS-PX277, and HS-GM1000 models that used the Toshiba TA2002FN audio amp IC with a separate Dolby IC NJM2185V.

The MSM6576-99-GS-K IC provides system control functionality, whilst the MM1279XV IC provides servo and driver functionality for the three phase disc motor. The electronic engineering is highly evolved and intricate with discrete transistor dc-dc booster circuit in the power supply section. The mechanical engineering is also highly evolved requiring a system control IC, and an optical position sensor within the mechanism. In addition, all of this is powered by just a single AA battery that can provide up to 30-hours operation. The build quality is fairly good, with a plastic body and metal cassette compartment lid. The circular control wheel was a very imaginative design and iconic today. I found the sound quality to be excellent; however one must use a high-end pair of headphones with it.

Servicing Tip

In this unit, the drive belt was very old and loose and required changing. When the belt is loose, the unit tries to start and makes a beep sound through the headphones, but gives up and stops after a few seconds. The drive belt is under the main board; hence you will need to find a way to gain access to the mechanism underneath. The board is held down by screws, however unfortunately you will also have to desolder the four terminals of the disc motor, and three terminals of the headphone socket. The board will then lift off when you push up the spring battery terminals from their holding slots.

Price/eBay

These are basic units that sometimes come up for sale on the auction site. They are desirable by collectors because they were very intricate and built to a good standard of finish. A broken unit that requires a new drive belt will be time-consuming to repair, and unless you have soldering skills, it may prove difficult. However if you have time on your hands and some soldering skills, then it may be a good bargain to get.

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